Overseas Ministers Badr Abdelatty of Egypt, Prince Faisal bin Farhan Al Saud of Saudi Arabia, Ishaq Dar of Pakistan and Hakan Fidan of Turkey meet to debate regional de-escalation, amid the U.S.-Israel battle with Iran, in Islamabad, Pakistan, on March 29, 2026.
Turkish Overseas Ministry | Through Reuters
Pakistani Deputy Prime Minister and Overseas Minister Ishaq Dar mentioned Sunday that each the U.S. and Iran have expressed confidence in Pakistan to carry talks within the coming days aimed toward ending the U.S.-Israeli conflict in Iran.
In a assertion following a gathering with the international ministers of Saudi Arabia, Turkey and Egypt, Dar mentioned Pakistan is partaking with the U.S. to search out an finish to the battle, and that “each Iran and the US have expressed their confidence in Pakistan to facilitate the talks.
“Pakistan will probably be honoured to host and facilitate significant talks between the 2 sides in coming days, for a complete and lasting settlement of the continuing battle,” Dar mentioned.
It’s unclear whether or not the U.S. and Iran had agreed to any formal talks with Pakistan. The White Home didn’t instantly reply to a request for remark from CNBC.
The international ministers from the 4 Center East nations met in Pakistan to debate the U.S. and Israeli conflict on Iran, as U.S. President Donald Trump reportedly weighs deploying floor troops into the battle that’s now stretching into its second month.
Trump, in the meantime, is reportedly weighing the deployment of U.S. floor troops into the battle as Iran holds the Strait of Hormuz largely closed — sending shockwaves by the markets and spiking oil and gasoline costs.
The Washington Publish reported Saturday evening that the Pentagon is getting ready for weeks of potential floor battle in Iran as hundreds of U.S. troops arrive within the area. It is unclear if Trump will green-light the operations, as he claims that the conflict effort is each winding down whereas threatening to escalate the battle.
Lawmakers, who simply left Washington for a two-week recess, on Sunday expressed some hesitation a couple of potential full-scale invasion of Iran with U.S. forces. However high Republicans appeared to offer Trump partial approval for some use of U.S. floor troops.
Sen. James Lankford, R-Okla., mentioned on NBC’s “Meet the Press” that his help for the usage of floor troops “will depend on what boots we’re placing on the bottom,” arguing that the usage of particular forces items for particular targets is completely different than a longstanding occupation and floor conflict, which he mentioned would require congressional authorization.
“If we had a long-standing conflict that is taking place, return once more to what occurred in Iraq or in Afghanistan, sure,” Lankford mentioned on congressional approval. “If that is to guard People and to have the ability to be sure that we’re in there for a season and we’re stopping and getting out, that is very, very completely different. So once more, that is all contingent.”
Iranian parliament speaker Mohammad Bagher Qalibaf on Sunday warned that Iranian troops “are ready for the arrival of American troops on the bottom to set them on fireplace and punish their regional companions eternally,” the Related Press reported, citing state media.
Egypt says conferences purpose for ‘direct dialogue’
Egyptian Overseas Minister Badr Abdelatty mentioned the conferences in Pakistan are aimed toward opening a “direct dialogue” between the U.S. and Iran, which have largely communicated by mediators. The conflict started with U.S. and Israeli strikes throughout oblique talks. Pakistan mentioned the international ministers met Sunday with out U.S. or Israeli participation.
Overseas Ministers Badr Abdelatty of Egypt, Prince Faisal bin Farhan Al Saud of Saudi Arabia, Ishaq Dar of Pakistan and Hakan Fidan of Turkey meet to debate regional de-escalation, amid the U.S.-Israel battle with Iran, in Islamabad, Pakistan, on March 29, 2026.
Turkish Overseas Ministry | Through Reuters
Iranian officers have rejected a U.S. 15-point “motion checklist” as a framework for a attainable peace deal and publicly dismissed the thought of negotiating below strain. However Iran’s state broadcaster has reported that Tehran drafted its personal five-point proposal, reportedly calling for a halt to killing Iranian officers, ensures in opposition to future assaults, reparations, and Iran’s “train of sovereignty over the Strait of Hormuz.”
Iran has eased some restrictions on business ships within the strait, agreeing late Saturday to permit 20 extra Pakistani-flagged vessels to move by. It “sends a transparent sign that Iran stays open for enterprise with the world, offered the USA abandons coercion,” mentioned Asif Durrani, Pakistan’s former ambassador to Iran.
An adviser to the United Arab Emirates, Anwar Gargash, referred to as for any settlement to the conflict to incorporate “clear ensures” that Iranian assaults on neighbors is not going to be repeated. He mentioned Iran’s authorities has develop into “the principle menace” to Persian Gulf safety, and referred to as for compensation for assaults on civilian infrastructure.
Iran heavy water manufacturing plant broken
The U.N. nuclear watchdog mentioned satellite tv for pc imagery confirmed extreme harm to the Khondab heavy-water manufacturing plant close to Arak.
The Worldwide Atomic Power Company added that the set up has no declared nuclear materials. Iran’s Atomic Power Group reported on Friday that the power was hit and Israel claimed accountability for the strike.
For the reason that conflict started a month in the past, a number of strikes have focused nuclear websites throughout Iran.
Aluminium maker struck
Aluminium Bahrain, which hosts the world’s largest smelter of the steel, mentioned on Sunday its facility was subjected to an Iranian assault.
The corporate, often known as Alba, mentioned in a assertion that the assault occurred on Saturday.
“Alba is assessing the extent of the harm to its amenities and stays targeted on sustaining its operational resilience and the security of its staff,” Alba mentioned.
The corporate had minimize manufacturing capability by 19% of its annual output of 1.6 million tons “as an operational measure to protect enterprise continuity amid ongoing provide and transit disruptions affecting the Strait of Hormuz,” the corporate mentioned on March 15.
The manufacturing cuts have been including to fears of a worldwide scarcity of the steel. Aluminum costs surged to four-year highs earlier this month earlier than paring a few of these good points. They continue to be 4.3% above their Feb. 27 ranges.
Whereas aluminum will be the most plentiful steel on earth, it’s essential to the functioning of the world economic system. It’s a necessary materials throughout electronics, transport, and building, in addition to different industries corresponding to photo voltaic panels and packaging.
LME Aluminum
Iran has been retaliating in opposition to U.S. and Israeli assaults that started on Feb. 28 by firing missiles and drones at its regional neighbors.
The United Arab Emirates mentioned on Sunday its air defenses have been coping with the most recent salvo of incoming missiles.
Houthis enter the fray
On Saturday, Iranian-backed Houthi fighters mentioned they launched a missile strike in opposition to Israel, the primary time the group has participated within the conflict.
Analysts have instructed CNBC that the Houthis might try to choke off maritime visitors by the Bab el-Mandeb Strait, separating the Arabian Peninsula and the Horn of Africa — by which ships should move to achieve the Purple Sea and the Suez Canal — including to strain on world commerce.
On Saturday, Danish transport big Maersk, broadly thought to be a barometer of world commerce, responded to studies of drone exercise and explosions that occurred on the Port of Salalah in Oman.
The Bab el-Mandeb Strait was estimated to account for 12% of seaborne oil commerce and eight% of liquefied pure gasoline commerce within the first half of 2023.
Iranian forces have already successfully shut down the Strait of Hormuz between Iran and the Arabian Peninsula, by which about 20% of the world’s oil provides moved earlier than the conflict.
Oil costs on Friday closed at their highest degree in additional than three years, as President Donald Trump’s pivot towards negotiations with Iran didn’t ease market fears concerning the big provide disruption within the Center East.
U.S. crude oil costs rose 5.46% to shut at $99.64 per barrel. Worldwide benchmark Brent crude costs gained 4.22% to settle at $112.57.
Trump’s transfer to offer Iran a 10-day extension to open the strategically very important Strait failed to assuage provide considerations. The president mentioned in a social media put up on Thursday that talks with Iran have been “going very effectively” regardless of “misguided statements on the contrary by the Pretend Information Media, and others.” Iran says it has not engaged in any negotiations.
As a part of the announcement, the U.S. president mentioned he would pause assaults on Iran’s power infrastructure by April 6.
In the meantime, a rising U.S. troop presence within the Gulf has raised fears of a floor invasion, presumably prolonging the conflict and uncertainty for the worldwide economic system.
The U.S. Central Command confirmed the thirty first Marine Expeditionary Unit, made up of roughly 3,500 Sailors and Marines, arrived within the Center East on Saturday.
“U.S. Sailors and Marines aboard USS Tripoli (LHA 7) arrived within the U.S. Central Command space of accountability, March 27,” in response to a press release posted on X.
On Sunday, Iran threatened to focus on U.S. and Israeli academic establishments within the area until the U.S. condemns assaults on Iranian universities, in response to Iranian media, which quoted its armed forces. It posted photographs of harm to the College of Science and Know-how in Tehran, which it blamed on U.S. assaults.
Demise toll continues to climb
In Lebanon, officers mentioned greater than 1,200 folks have been killed. There have been fears of extra deaths after Netanyahu, talking on a go to to northern Israel, mentioned Israel was “decided to basically change the scenario within the north.” He mentioned Hezbollah “nonetheless has residual functionality to fireplace rockets at us.”
Iranian authorities say greater than 1,900 folks have been killed within the Islamic Republic, whereas 19 have been reported lifeless in Israel.
In Iraq, the place Iranian-supported militia teams have entered the battle, 80 members of the safety forces have died.
In Gulf states, 20 folks have been killed. 4 have been killed within the occupied West Financial institution.
13 American service members have been killed within the conflict.
— The Related Press and Reuters contributed to this report
